MONTREAL — That time-tested ritual of cursing under your breath while circling the block endlessly looking for that prime parking spot is disappearing with a few simple clicks of a mouse.

At least that's what a couple of entrepreneurs from the Montreal-area are hoping after launching a website called maplace.ca last month.

The website allows you to sign up and put in the particulars of where and when you need a spot. Then the computer does the rest, tracking down the spot, reserving it and taking payment by credit card.

The Quebec duo got the idea from a university project designed to maximize use of parking spots at a local university so that parking spots didn't go unused.

Largely through word-of-mouth, their company is attracting attention, with about 700 people having signed up for the service.

Drivers are given a grace period of about one hour to get to the spot.